Irish Rural Link has added AgriKids to the list of projects in its fold after a successful acquisition for the children’s farm safety educational platform.

Agrikids will now join other national and EU projects under the Irish Rural Link umbrella, such as CAP Network Ireland, Meals on Wheels and the Breeding Waders EIP.

Irish Rural Link is a network that represents the interests of a coalition rural and community groups.

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It has said that the take-over will “enhance AgriKids’ ability to scale its impact and grow its resources” in line with the demand it has built since its foundation in 2015.

Irish Rural Link’s CEO Seamus Boland said the takeover is a “natural step in our continued commitment to farm safety and rural education”.

“By combining AgriKids’ innovative, child-focused approach with IRL’s experience in community development and advocacy, we can broaden our impact and ensure safer, more sustainable farm environments for families across Ireland.”

Founder of the AgriKids platform Alma Jordan will remain on as manager of the project.

Jordan said it had become “increasingly challenging to run AgriKids as a solo entity”.

“Despite the demand and importance of the work, funding options were extremely limited, I simply couldn’t keep up nor make it viable.

“It became imperative that I find a new home for AgriKids or make the heartbreaking decision to wind down.”

AgriKids saw success last September when it won a Department of Agriculture contract to run farm safety programmes in primary schools.

It plans on shortly announcing the next phase of its farm safety ambassador programme.